During this observation, focus on how class begins. Where is your CT before class begins? What is he or she doing? Using the clock on the wall, determine when your CT establishes order and begins class. How did she/he start their lesson? How is homework from the previous night reviewed/collected/assessed? How does your CT engage students during the opening of the lesson? Is the approach your CT used during this lesson consistent with what you know about how students learn?
As the students begin to file in for class my CT, Mr. Bruneau, stands just inside the door and greets them. Some he just smiles at but most he says hi to and asks how they are doing. Each class that my CT teaches has a different routine. For example, with his junior / senior comparative anatomy class he has them write in a journal every day. Some days they come in and there is a prompt on the board. Usually it is a question to get them thinking about what they did last class. On my first day he had them watch a five minute video clip and respond. With his younger classes Mr. Bruneau does things a little differently. He usually lets them just sit and talk until the bell rings and then he greets them, explains what they will be doing for the day, asks if anyone has any questions, then jumps into the lesson.
With the older students work usually begins before the bell even rings as they students already know that they need to come in get their journals and begin working. With the other classes, Mr. Bruneau calls them to order as soon as the bell rings. My CT always begins every class by quickly going over what they did the previous day to refresh their memories and then telling them what they will be doing that day.
I really like the journal approach that he uses with his older students. It ensures that the class gets right to work without wasting time and is a good way to go over previous material or to get them excited about what is coming next. I asked Mr. Bruneau why he did not do this with all his classes and he explained that the younger students would not have the self discipline / motivation to get to work on their own like that every day. I can see where he is coming from as you can definitely see the difference in maturity level between the older and younger students. One thing I would change about the journal is that every class they write about the content of the class. If I were doing this with my class then maybe once a week I would ask them to reflect on themselves instead of the class. For example, I could ask how they were doing with applying to colleges if it were a senior class, or ask them to reflect on themselves as learners. I think this would be a good thing to do because it would allow me to get to know my students better, show them that I care, and give me a better idea of how they learn so I can tweak my lessons to better fit their needs.
Besides switching up the journal prompts a bit, I would not change much about how my CT begins his classes. He has established a clear routine with every class so that when they come in every day they know what to expect and how to behave. I think this routine is important for students and when I take over classes in the spring I will try to be consistent with how Mr. Bruneau begins his lessons so that the students can keep the routine they are used to following.
As the students begin to file in for class my CT, Mr. Bruneau, stands just inside the door and greets them. Some he just smiles at but most he says hi to and asks how they are doing. Each class that my CT teaches has a different routine. For example, with his junior / senior comparative anatomy class he has them write in a journal every day. Some days they come in and there is a prompt on the board. Usually it is a question to get them thinking about what they did last class. On my first day he had them watch a five minute video clip and respond. With his younger classes Mr. Bruneau does things a little differently. He usually lets them just sit and talk until the bell rings and then he greets them, explains what they will be doing for the day, asks if anyone has any questions, then jumps into the lesson.
With the older students work usually begins before the bell even rings as they students already know that they need to come in get their journals and begin working. With the other classes, Mr. Bruneau calls them to order as soon as the bell rings. My CT always begins every class by quickly going over what they did the previous day to refresh their memories and then telling them what they will be doing that day.
I really like the journal approach that he uses with his older students. It ensures that the class gets right to work without wasting time and is a good way to go over previous material or to get them excited about what is coming next. I asked Mr. Bruneau why he did not do this with all his classes and he explained that the younger students would not have the self discipline / motivation to get to work on their own like that every day. I can see where he is coming from as you can definitely see the difference in maturity level between the older and younger students. One thing I would change about the journal is that every class they write about the content of the class. If I were doing this with my class then maybe once a week I would ask them to reflect on themselves instead of the class. For example, I could ask how they were doing with applying to colleges if it were a senior class, or ask them to reflect on themselves as learners. I think this would be a good thing to do because it would allow me to get to know my students better, show them that I care, and give me a better idea of how they learn so I can tweak my lessons to better fit their needs.
Besides switching up the journal prompts a bit, I would not change much about how my CT begins his classes. He has established a clear routine with every class so that when they come in every day they know what to expect and how to behave. I think this routine is important for students and when I take over classes in the spring I will try to be consistent with how Mr. Bruneau begins his lessons so that the students can keep the routine they are used to following.
Kerry K